Hormones

Question 1

What are hormones?

Answer 1

The chemical messengers of the body.

Question 2

What other ‘structures’ in the body also act as chemical messengers?

Answer 2

Neurotransmitters.

Question 3

How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?

Answer 3

Hormones take time to relay messages and they work over time.

Question 4

How do hormones travel?

Answer 4

They travel via the circulatory system of the body, via the bloodstream.

Question 5

The endocrine system…

Answer 5

… makes hormones.

Question 6

Structures that make up the endocrine system?

Answer 6

• thyroid, adrenal, thymus & pituitary glands
• the pancreas
• the hypothalamus
• testes & ovaries

Question 7

What do hormones regulate?

Answer 7

They regulate physiology & behaviour, for e.g. breathing & temperature, tissue function, metabolic rate, reproduction, stress, growth & development, sleep, mood, etc.

Question 8

The pituitary gland is important for?

Answer 8

The production of hormones.

Question 9

What is produced by the pituitary gland?

Answer 9

• the growth hormone
• adrenocorticotropic
• antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)

Question 10

What does adrenocorticotropic do?

Answer 10

It produces cortisol.

Question 11

What is cortisol needed for?

Answer 11

To combat stress and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Question 12

Role of antidiuretic hormone?

Answer 12

To regulate water balance in the body.

Question 13

Thyroid-stimulating hormone is also produced in the pituitary gland.
What does this hormone do?

Answer 13

It helps to regulate the body’s metabolism.

Question 14

What does the thymus produce?

Answer 14

Hormones linked to puberty.

Question 15

What does the pineal gland produce?

Answer 15

Melatonin

Question 16

Role of melatonin?

Answer 16

Regulating sleep patterns.

Question 17

The testes produce testosterone, which has a role in?

Answer 17

Maintaining sex drive and producing sperm.

Question 18

The ovaries produce oestrogen & progestrone, which relate to?

Answer 18

The menstrual cycle & development of breasts.

Question 19

What does the thyroid control?

Answer 19

Metabolism

Question 20

The adrenal gland relates to?

Answer 20

Heart functioning and distributing stored fat.

Question 21

What does the parathyroid relate to?

Answer 21

Good bone development.

Question 22

Function of pancreas?

Answer 22

Promotes healthy levels of blood sugar.

Question 23

How do hormones work?

Answer 23

By binding to receptor proteins in target cells & changing cell function.

Question 24

What can hormone secretion be triggered by?

Answer 24

By other hormones or by activity and the neuronal level.

Question 25

Behaviour is affected by hormones, based on?

Answer 25

• when they are released
• how they are received at the cell level
• how concentrated they are

Question 26

What else can affect the release of hormones?

Answer 26

The environment

Question 27

Hormones can be used as?

Answer 27

Medication

Question 28

Use of oestrogens & progestogens as medication?

Answer 28

• as a contraceptive

- in hormone replacement theory (HRT) to prevent menopausal symptoms

Question 29

Insulin as medication?

Answer 29

It is used by diabetics.

Question 30

Steroid creams are used for what as a medication?

Answer 30

For skin disorders.

Question 31

Use of thryoxin as medication?

Answer 31

Used for people with thryoid condiitons to help regulate the body.

Question 32

What are steroids?

Answer 32

Hormones used for autoimmune disorders & other problems.

Question 33

Glucocorticoids can help to?

Answer 33

Reduce inflammation.